“The work will continue...” – Father Edward J. Flanagan, Fall 2019 Newsletter Founder of Boys Town

Aces for Boys Town New England Boys Town New England was chosen by the International “It was wonderful to get our kids, none of whom have ever played Hall of Fame as one of 10 local nonprofits to receive donations or knew much about the sport, out of their comfort zone, learning from the “Aces for Rhode Island” initiative at the organization’s something new. After this experience, it looks like we might have 2019 Hall of Fame Open. some budding tennis players here at Boys Town New England.” “The opportunity to be a charity partner for the International The youth who attended the mini clinic were invited out to watch Tennis Hall of Fame’s ‘Aces for Rhode Island’ provides us Ze and Gong Maoxin’s second Open match on July 18. incredible exposure at a nationally recognized tennis tournament. Not only does this give us the chance to spread awareness of the “Aces for Rhode Island” is a community initiative that great work we do for local children and families, but it provides our youth a chance to get involved as well,” said Amanda Baker, uses the Open as a vehicle to raise funds to support Development Director, Boys Town New England. important local causes. Every ace scored in the tennis On July 16, two world-renowned tennis players, Zhang Ze and tournament results in funds raised for local nonprofits, Gong Maoxin of , visited the Boys Town New England including Boys Town New England. campus and conducted a mini-clinic to teach our youth how to play tennis. Boys Town New England extends a huge thank you to the Boys Town Assistant Family-Teacher® Amaury Tavarez shared International Tennis Hall of Fame for choosing us as one of the how one youth thought it was “awesome to learn a new sport from nonprofits in the “Aces for Rhode Island” initiative this year. We a professional athlete.” Amaury thought it was incredible to hear this appreciate the special experience our youth enjoyed and the from a child who normally doesn’t like outdoor activities. opportunity to raise funds that will help us continue to save children and heal families in the local community. “This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience we could not have offered without the Hall of Fame’s support,” Amanda said. Spotlight on: Community Partnership

LIFT Together with Boys TownSM Since its founding more than 100 years ago in Omaha, Nebraska, when red flags pop up and we make immediate contact to Boys Town has been a safe haven for children who have provide assistance. experienced trauma, abuse, neglect and other challenges. Boys If a family accepts help, our Consultants then begin meeting Town New England was established in Portsmouth, Rhode regularly with family members. Consultants work to foster Island, in 1991 on land generously donated by the Bazarsky improved parent engagement and communication between family so that Father Flanagan’s mission could benefit the home and school by bridging the cultural divide between children and families of Rhode Island and its surrounding Spanish- and Creole-speaking families and predominantly states. As programming expanded over the years, a need in the English-speaking teachers, and help families build sustainable Pawtucket school system, specifically at Elizabeth Baldwin and support and resource networks within their own community. Fallon Memorial elementary schools, became clear. At Fallon Boys Town New England also provides parents with Common Memorial, 15% of students experience chronic absenteeism, Sense Parenting® classes to help them address behavioral issues and the suspension rate is 14%, compared to only 4% statewide. they may be working through with their child. Meanwhile, at Elizabeth Baldwin, the suspension rate is 15%, 88% of students receive subsidized lunch and 21% of students receive The LIFT Together with Boys Town partnership is different because bilingual education services. it does not just treat symptoms like truancy, acting out in school, bad grades, etc. Instead, it uses those symptoms to identify the In 2016, with the support of the United Way, the LIFT Together bigger problem, and then tackles that problem at its heart. Our SM with Boys Town community partnership emerged. LIFT Consultants work tirelessly to build trust and rapport with families, Together with Boys Town aims to address the complex underlying and are on call constantly to help resolve crises. They help families familial issues that prevent children from succeeding. These and form long-term plans and tackle overarching issues such issues also often lead to abuse and neglect, and to children as job instability, relationship problems, mental health issues, being removed from their homes. When grades suddenly addiction, immigration and other legal issues. slip and truancy and behavioral problems increase, the root problems most often lie outside of the classroom. Boys Town Thanks to the support of the United Way, Pawtucket’s school New England’s team partners closely with school teachers and administration and you – our dedicated, generous donors – administrators to identify those children in need of help as soon we can continue to work toward our goal of keeping families as possible, because school is where the first warning signs of together and keeping children in school, out of trouble and on family strife most often appear. The schools alert our team track to graduate.

WELL-MANAGED SCHOOLS IN-HOME FAMILY During the 2018-2019 academic year, SERVICES (IHFS) 173 47 administrators and teachers in Youth grades 3-5 at Elizabeth Baldwin and During the past three years, funding Fallon Memorial elementary schools from the United Way has supported participated in Boys Town’s Well- 560 In-Home Family Services for 75 Managed Schools training, positively Students families, which included 173 youth 107 impacting 560 students. and 107 adults. Adults

CARE COORDINATION COMMON SENSE SERVICES (CCS) PARENTING (CSP) 406 During the past three years, funding During the past three years, funding Youth from the United Way has supported 164 from the United Way has supported Care Coordination Services for 67 Youth Common Sense Parenting® classes for families, which included 164 youth 214 families, which included 406 youth 273 and 109 adults. 109 and 273 parents. Parents Adults From left to right: LIFT Together with Boys TownSM Supervisor, Julia; LIFT Consultants Alba, Laliza, Rossana and Kyleah; and Director of Community Support Services, Eli.

Thoughts from Eli Meet the Team Hello! My name is Eli Escrogin. I joined the Boys Town New “I enjoy working at Boys Town because I have England team in 2014. Currently, I am the Director of endless learning opportunities through the Community Support Services, which includes overseeing LIFT SM trainings that Boys Town provides, as well as Together with Boys Town . I began my work in youth services support from my management team and as a case manager right out of college, working for a large co-workers.” — Rossana social service agency in Rhode Island. While there, I had an opportunity to work with the Providence Police Department as “I work here because I believe in the mission and a Police Liaison, and assisted children and families who had the vision of this organization, and I want to fallen victim to crime. I ended my tenure there as Site Director make an impact in the lives of families in my own of the Full Service Community Schools, an opportunity that I community. Working with parents to provide loved as I was able to work with the children and teachers in different strategies for them to implement to their school environments and truly help make a difference! see positive behavior changes in their children is rewarding.” — Laliza When I heard about Boys Town’s mission to “change the way America cares for children and families,” I was intrigued. I soon “There are a lot of programs focused on reactively learned that Boys Town wanted to turn from working helping families in crisis. I come from one of reactively to working preventatively in supporting at-risk those, and I wanted a first-hand experience children and families living in Pawtucket and Central Falls, working with families on a preventative Rhode Island. That is when I knew it was the perfect place for approach that would effectively assist parents in me! My passion is to help underprivileged children and their being successful.” — Alba families gain a fighting chance. I work hard every day to help “I wanted to be a part of a mission that was bigger break the cycles of poverty, abuse and trauma experienced by than me. With Boys Town, not only do they care these families, and to provide them with the knowledge, skills about children and families, but they believe in and resources they need to do so. and care about their employees. I have worked These past few years with Boys Town have been a blessing. I’ve at the New York and Iowa sites, and am now here had the distinct pleasure of seeing the changes my team has set in Rhode Island. The endless possibilities for into motion snowball each and every day. I see families that growth as a professional and for the families we previously would have had no place to go – families that serve are incomparable.” — Julia oftentimes just needed a hand to hold and a bit of guidance –

Continued on back page... Thoughts from Elicontinued... Upcoming Events or Please contact Amanda Baker [email protected] plenty ofvolunteer opportunities for bothSaturday and Sunday. Run for Team BoysTown New England! We havebibs availableand Easton’s Beach Rotunda |Newport, RI Marathon Newport Amica Sunday, October 13 [email protected] or401-608-9532. information, pleasecontact Amanda Baker at on ourwebsite. For tickets, sponsorship orgift-in-kind donation Catering bylocal eatery Binge BBQ.Tickets can bepurchased International Tennis Hall of Fame |Newport, RI Spirit of Youth Annual Fundraiser Friday, September 27 | 6 – 9:30 pm in both elementary schools we work in have we work I’m declined. schools thrilled elementary in both and discipline fortraining of more it, referrals and are advocating in our Well-Managed to participate are excited Schools they families Teachers to referring our programs, areschools. actively cultural change adeeper we are seeing in these support, child Through community’s our in and hard the need. work and guidance toinformation. any parent We support or provide we donot for income ask immigration status, do not check insurance, without we away we donot turn those we serve; who Together Town LIFT The Boys with thriving. team is not limited in Be aFoster Parent. 401-608-9532. [email protected] 401-608-9581 DONOR RELATIONS SPECIALIST Elizabeth Rose [email protected] 401-608-9532 DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Amanda Baker

Development Office

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Interested in becoming a Massachusetts Foster Parent? Foster a Massachusetts becoming in Interested Parent? Foster Island a Rhode becoming in Interested Call Call [email protected] Boys Town New England! Pleasecontact We havebibsand volunteer opportunities available.Runfor Team Citizens BankPell Bridge Run, especiallyinthe50thanniversary year! Boys Town New England ishonored to beacharitypartnerfor the Newport Visitors Center |Newport, RI Citizens Bank Pell Bridge Run Sunday, October 20 BOYSTOWN.ORG/NEW-ENGLAND and Facebook page as thedate nears. available. More information willbeposted on ourwebsite programs and services. Lightrefreshments, caroling and hometours youth will beonsite to share more aboutBoysTown New England’s Join usto kickoff theholidayseason! Admission isfree. Staff and RI CampusBazarsky Portsmouth, | Tree Campus Christmas Annual Lighting Thursday, December 5 | 5:30 – 7 pm and families in Island Rhode and surrounding states. ofhas children to brought tens care of thousands life-changing Town Boys 1991, in England opening Since New to families their and maintain and improve treatment their gains. are available back make to help transition them a smooth Services TownBoys Reunification England New programs, out-of-home For children have who completed Services. Support Community and Family In-Home Services Family Foster Services, offers also site The Campus. and young Bazarsky children atadolescents its TownBoys England New has five thatserve Family Homes For more great stories, visit just how beautiful and important it is. and beautiful how important just day,and families and each Ican’t and every tell you in words has onour children your support effects positive the Isee work. Thank Town you for believing in Boys England New and our Together Town Boys with partnership! community LIFT for the what’s to see next and am excited progress, this with

Sara Hinchcliffe Sara Wild Carol Connect withus@BoysTownNewEng Follow usatBoysTownNewEngland Like usatfacebook.com/BoysTownNewEngland

today at 401-608-9530 today at today at today

or . 401-608-9535 401-608-9532. 401-608-9532.

Amanda Baker at

. Warm Regards, Warm

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